61% of Michigan Voters Support Initiative to Legalize Marijuana, New Poll Finds

More than six out of every ten voters in Michigan support an initiative that would legalize marijuana for those 21 and older.

In November The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol submitted over 360,000 signatures on their initiative to legalize marijuana, well more than the 252,523 signatures required to place it on this November’s general election ballot. According to a new poll conducted by the EPIC-MRA polling research firm, and commissioned by Michigan NORML, if the election were held today 61% of voters say that they would vote “Yes” on the initiative. This marks a 4% increase in support for legalization since last year, and an 11% increase since 2014.

The proposal by The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, titled The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, would allow anyone 21 and older to possess and grow marijuana for personal use. The initiative would also establish a comprehensive system of licensed marijuana businesses, including marijuana retail outlets. Overall, the proposed law is similar to legalization initiatives approved in other states like Colorado and Oregon.

The EPIC-MRA poll shows that support for legalization in Michigan is roughly the same as support on the national level; a Fox News poll released last month found that 59% of adults in the U.S. support making marijuana legal.

If Michigan voters do legalize marijuana in November, the state would become the 10th in the U.S. to do so, following Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Nevada, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont. Of these states, only Vermont disallows marijuana stores.

According to their website, The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol is:

a committee formed to support a 2018 ballot initiative to end marijuana prohibition in Michigan and establish a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol. It represents a coalition of citizens, community leaders, businesses, and organizations that recognize marijuana prohibition has failed and believe it is time for Michigan to adopt a more sensible marijuana policy.